Run It Fast®

100-year old Fauja Singh became the oldest person in human history to complete a full (26.2 mile) marathon over the weekend according to the Guinness Book of World Records.

Singh completed the Toronto Waterfront Marathon on Sunday with a time of 8 hours, 25 minutes, and 16 seconds.

I’m not sure if he was complimenting the institution of marriage or comparing how difficult finishing a marathon at 100 was too marriage in his quote below after the race:

“Beating his original prediction, he’s overjoyed,” his coach and translator Harmander Singh said. “Earlier, just before we came around the (final) corner, he said, ‘Achieving this will be like getting married again.’

“He’s absolutely overjoyed, he’s achieved his lifelong wish.”

Sunday’s run was Singh’s eighth marathon – he ran his first at age 89 – and wasn’t the first time he set a record.

Video on Fauja Singh’s Accomplishment

“You eat to live, not live to eat!”

Read More at the BBC on Risks and Benefits of Running til 100

Here is our first look at the 2011 California Wine Country Marathon that took place on October 16, 2011 in Healdsburg, California.

This cork-stopper is a medal that actually might be used beyond the day it was handed down at the finish line.

Several points to the RD for creativity!

[medal pic submitted by Navin Sadarangani. You can follow him on Twitter @navin48]

The new boss sure looks a lot like the old boss!  Here is the new 2012 Boston Marathon logo that keeps in line with it’s famed history with just a few minor updates to it for the 2012 race.

The 116th running of the Boston Marathon will take place on April 16, 2012.

Congrats to all who qualified and got into the 2012 event.

You can follow the Boston Marathon on Twitter @BostonMarathon

We asked on Twitter (@runitfast) where you were running this weekend and 35 of you responded!

Good luck to everyone running this weekend, especially all of you that are running your first 1/2, full, or any distance.  Run It Fast!!!!

Joshua Holmes – @bayou – The Pumpkin Holler Hunnerd mile ultra in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.

Jonathan Mann – @JonathanMann82 – running the Detroit Free Press Marathon!!! 🙂

Tianna Marshall – @TrunsLA – running the NWM in San Fran Sunday!

K. Tolliver – @IvyzMom – Doing a virtual 5k on Saturday for breast cancer awareness. I will run while my daughter is in art class.

Jessica Cummuta – @jcummuta – I’ll be running a 12 miler through the UW Homecoming chaos. Can’t wait! 🙂 #onwisconsin

Beth Quevli – @bethquevli – Nerstrand Big Woods Run half marathon in Fairbault, MN.

Lisa Gonzales -@runlikeacoyote – a Hurricane JEM Trail Race in Virgin, Utah on Saturday. Hopefully.

Lauren Stone @laurens3386 – Run the Beat 5k to raise money for Special Olympics

Heather – @her1023 – I’ll be running in my first half marathon on Sunday at the #SWTM. Excited, nervous, anxious… but mostly excited!

The Mommy Miles – @TheMommyMiles – Racing in the Girlfriends Half Marathon in Vancouver, WA on Sunday!

Patrick Mitchell – @Run_Patrick_Run – Kansas City Half Marathon-my first!!!

Naomi Pipes – @NaomiPipes – Quarter Marathon in Tulsa.

Elizabeth V. Rehmer – @turtlegirl00 – Raw Deal Run mccleod mt!! 🙂

Justin Lagat – @Kenyanathlete – Ndalat gaa cross country, Eldoret Kenya.

Dean – @deanlu1 – Long run this morning in Lewes – Seagull Century ride on Saturday.

Wrytersview – @wrytersview – Barber to Boise

Scott Stader – @ScottStader – tackling the Middle Half on Sat in Murf’boro and maybe a 10k in Camden on Sun!

Tony Serwatuk – @TonySerwatuk – Toronto Waterfront Half Marathon Oct 16.

Jeanie Olinger – @DovesFireMin – I’m walking for PDK (polycystic kidney disease)foundation… broken knee cap so I can’t run yet…

Danielle Marquis – @Nello33 – I am racing my first marathon ever at the@amicamarathon in Newport, RI!

Kimberly Kayler – @KimberlyKayler – Columbus marathon!

ItchyBellyBeltCo – @itchybellybelts – we’re running a half marathon at Cardiff, Wales!

Ace – @PhotoByAce – Grand Rapids Marathon #race #26.2 #Woot

Diane H – @DianeHodyl – ING Hartford!

Tracy Rinella – @Redtootsiepop – NWM !!!! My first marathon 🙂

Taíse Bruna – @eusoutaise – i will Run in Santos /São Paulo (BRA) beach.

Robin Podesta – @Robinrungirl – It’s Nike time, this will be half marathon #17 for me. This is a beautiful SF course, so pretty you won’t mind the hills.

JG – @SpionJoe – running in the Phoenix Park, Dublin, Ireland.http://lockerz.com/s/147047030

Ian Harper – @ianhar01 – Seven Bridges half marathon in Chattanooga.

Roy van den Anker – @RSA73 – this weekend #Adammarathon !!!

Annicka M. – @AnnickaM – I run the Half Marathon Amsterdam Sunday for the 3rd time

Natalie Torres – @NattieRuns – I am running the Baltimore half marathon on Saturday.

John Longo – @speed13jl – Hartford Half Marathon tomorrow!

Luli Hernandez – @lourdeshernande – Cumbaya Ecuador 32k

K. Leslie – @KarentheDiva – Doing a short race this weekend 5K – Kristin’s Krusade. Next week @RunRocknRoll 10K NYC. Running gives me life!

We’ve heard rumors about the Little Rock Marathon medal, but now we have photos of the 2011 version to back up the claims of how massive this piece of bling actually is.

This medal 7 3/4″ long and 5″ wide. It weighs 1.5 pounds and the earth/globe spins like your cousin’s rims.  See video of the ‘spinner’ in action HERE.

More Photos of the 2011 Little Rock Marathon Medal

Little Rock Marathon Website

MORE PHOTOS OF MARATHON/ULTRA BLING & BUCKLES

[medal pics submitted by Darron Tytler. Follow him on Twitter @datman65]

The ING New York City Marathon is making changes to it’s guaranteed entry guidelines.  First, the Boston Marathon changed it’s registration guidelines and now it’s NYC’s turn to do the same.

NYC, like Boston, is having to make changes in wake of the plethora of marathoners that have popped up in the last decade.

The NYC Marathon is making the changes so that non-guaranteed runners will have a chance, via the lottery, of gaining a spot.

We believe that non-guaranteed entry is an essential element of the democracy of our marathon, and that it enhances the diversity of the marathon field. In order to preserve non-guaranteed entry at the ING New York City Marathon, we are changing some standards and policies.

Here is a look at the ING NYC Marathon Guaranteed Entry Changes:

The following guaranteed entry methods are changing:

Qualifying by cancelling entry. In the past, applicants to the marathon who canceled their entry according to cancellation guidelines were eligible for guaranteed entry to the following year’s race, and could continue to cancel (and receive guaranteed entry) in subsequent years. Our new policy preserves the cancellation policy but prohibits guaranteed entry by this method following a second consecutive cancellation.
Example: Jane is accepted to run the ING New York City Marathon 2011. She develops an injury and cancels her entry. Jane is eligible for guaranteed entry to the 2012 marathon; however, if she enters and then cancels her entry to the 2012 marathon, she is not eligible for guaranteed entry in 2013.

Note: Entrants who cancel and apply for guaranteed entry the following year must meet the application deadline and pay all applicable fees.

For guidelines on cancellation through a charity, consult your charity.
For guidelines on cancellation through an International Travel Partner, consult the ITP.
For Athletes with Disabilities cancellation guidelines, click here.

Qualifying by being denied entry three consecutive times. In the past, applicants to the marathon have been eligible for guaranteed entry if they have been denied entry three years in a row. This policy will be gradually eliminated. Applicants denied entry for the three years 2009-2011 will be eligible for guaranteed entry in 2012. Applicants denied entry for the three years 2010-2012 will be eligible for guaranteed entry in 2013. Applicants denied entry for the three years 2011-2013 will not be eligible for guaranteed entry in 2014.
Example: John applies for non-guaranteed entry in 2011 and is denied. If John was also denied entry in 2009 and 2010, he is eligible for guaranteed entry in 2012. If this is only John’s second consecutive denial, and he is also denied entry in 2012, he is eligible for guaranteed entry in 2013. If he is denied entry in 2011, 2012, and 2013, he is not eligible for guaranteed entry in 2014.

Qualifying by finishing 15 previous New York City Marathons. The ING New York City Marathon offers eligibility for guaranteed entry to runners who have finished 15 or more New York City Marathons. We will discontinue this policy, though we will grandfather in all runners who accumulate 15 or more finishes as of 2015.
Example: Joe has finished 15 New York City Marathons as of 2011. Joe is eligible for guaranteed entry in 2012. Bob, who has finished 11 New York City Marathons as of 2011 and also finishes in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015, is eligible for guaranteed entry in 2016 and going forward. Ed, who accumulates only 14 finishes by 2015, is not eligible for guaranteed entry in 2016, nor going forward (using this guaranteed entry method).

Qualifying with a fast marathon or half-marathon time. The time qualifying standards will be tightened to 75% of age-graded times in five-year increments:

Read all about the new changes on the NYC Marathon Website (HERE)

Boston and NYC are great marathons, but there are hundreds of marathons in the United States alone now. Many of them are just as exciting and challenging.  Most are a lot easier to gain entry to, get to, and run a PR-worthy race.

Back in May, we told you about Brett Henderson who streaked naked at the Flying Pig Marathon in Cincinnati.  He was arrested for his lewd act that day.

Today he had his day in court:

The judge placed Henderson on a year of probation, ordered him to spend 80 hours doing community service, to never run in the Flying Pig marathon again and to pay the marathon the $110 entry fee he never paid.

YouTube Video of Henderson Streaking at the Pig:

I can’t argue with the sentencing, but would the judge have been as severe with his ruling if the runner had been a woman?

RELATED: 2011 Flying Pig Marathon Medal

Here is the BEAUTIFUL finisher’s medal from the 2011 Portland Marathon that took place on October 9, 2011 in Portland, Oregon.

The 2011 edition was the 40th anniversary of the famed marathon, and race organizers made sure to embolden the historic date on the back of this gold medal (see photo below).

The front of the medal has the word ‘Portlandia’ at the top, with stars circling the upper edge of the medal. The center of the medal is an engraved image of Portlandia.  To the right of her is the word ‘Finisher’ along with the roman numerals MMXI (2011).

Per Wikipedia:

Portlandia is a sculpture by Raymond Kaskey located above the entrance of Michael Graves’ Portland Building in downtown Portland, Oregon, at 1120 SW 5th Avenue. It is the second-largest copper repoussé statue in the United States, after the Statue of Liberty.

WOW! What a hot piece of medal! It feels very olympic-ish!  One of the best medals of 2011 for sure.

40th Anniversary Portland Marathon Medal Photos

MORE PHOTOS OF MARATHON/ULTRA MEDALS

[submitted by Tracy Pellizzari who completed the Portland Marathon. You can follow her on Twitter @themarathonproj]

Runner/bus rider Rob Sloan has admitted to cheating at the Kielder Marathon after falsely finishing in third place. His bronze finished had since been stripped, and Sloan has admitted to cheating the course.

Sunderland Harrier Rob Sloan, 31, disembarked just before the end of the Kielder Marathon and emerged from a wooded section of the course to rejoin the race and pick up the bronze medal.

But the runner, who just 24 hours earlier had won a 10K race, was spotted by a number of witnesses, and organisers were left with no alternative but to disqualify him after Sunday’s event.

Sloan decided to drop at mile 20, hopped on the bus, then got off the bus to finish the last part of the race, finishing in 3rd place.

“Rob Sloan of Sunderland Harriers had apparently made the decision to withdraw from the race at approximately 20 miles due to fatigue and after returning to the Leaplish Park area he decided to run the closing section of the course and crossed the finish line in third place.

The third place award was rightfully given to Steven Cairns after Sloan’s cheating was confirmed.

The Kielder Marathon takes place in England (website).

[hat tip to Chuck ‘Marathonjunkie’ Engle]

Marathoner Amber Miller ran/walked the Chicago Marathon on Sunday in 6 hours and 25 minutes.  Rah, rah, congrats!

Then she gave birth to a baby girl, June Audra, just a few hours after finishing the race.  Miller started having contractions during the last miles of the marathon.

“I got the OK from my doctor to run half, and my husband ran with me and supported me along the way,” Miller told WGN-Channel 9 from her bed at Central DuPage Hospital. “I ran half and walked half, that’s how I finished.

Amber was 38 weeks and 5 days pregnant at the start of the Chicago Marathon.

Miller’s husband ran/walked the marathon with her but couldn’t keep up the last few miles and finished a short distance behind her.

“But I think just from running throughout the pregnancy, I’d usually get a contraction here or there anyway,” she said. “But then, a few minutes after I finished, I started feeling the contractions and they were coming every five minutes. So I think we waited an hour or so just to kind of make sure it was real labor. They were pretty consistent at that point.”

The worst thing that will happen from Miller’s ‘feat’ is that other women, that are addicted to running, will ignore the risks, doctor’s, and common sense in trying to do the same thing at future running events.  All women and all pregnancies aren’t equal.  I’d hate for anyone to lose a baby attempting such a selfish endeavor.

From the L.A. Times:

“Is this normal? Obviously not,” said James Pivarnik, a professor of kinesiology and epidemiology at the University at Michigan State University who wrote the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s most recent guidelines for physical activity during pregnancy.

But he said he applauds her doctor for allowing her do it. “Generally what we say is let the woman’s symptoms and history dictate what she can do,” he said. “She is obviously just one of those freaks who was able to do it. Most people wouldn’t want to.”

It’s vital, as athletes, to listen to our bodies and common sense when trying to reach our goals or finish a race.

In the same race, Will Caviness, a firefighter from North Carolina, died in the last 500 yards before the finish line.  Will was an experienced runner and marathoner.

Sermon aside, congrats to Amber and her husband on the birth of June.

Related Chicago Marathon Stories:

• RIF Condolences to Will Caviness Who Died During the Chicago Marathon
• 2011 Chicago Marathon Medal
• 2011 Chicago Marathon Results
• Elite Runners at the 2011 Chicago Marathon (list)

[photo: l.a. times]